Investing in Young Children: A Fact Sheet on Early Care and Education Participation, Access, and Quality

Schmit, Stephanie; Matthews, Hannah; Smith, Sheila; Robbins, Taylor

Center for Law and Social Policy, Inc. (CLASP)

Across the U.S., large numbers of young children are affected by one or more risk factors that have been linked to academic failure and poor health. High quality early care and education can play a critical role in promoting young children's early learning and success in life, while also supporting families' economic security. Young children at highest risk of educational failure--those experiencing poverty and related circumstances that may limit early learning experiences--benefit the most from high quality early care and education programs. This fact sheet provides information about the percentages of young children in each state experiencing risks related to poor educational outcomes. It then shows trends in federal and state investments in early care and education programs and state policies related to both access and quality.